Music
Thandiswa Mazwai Wins Four SAMA Awards for Sankofa
The 31st annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs) ceremony on Sunday, December 14, 2025, was a night to celebrate Thandiswa Mazwai, whose acclaimed 2024 album, Sankofa, won four major awards. The achievement cemented her status as an influential voice in African music.
Mazwai’s fourth studio album, Sankofa, was among the most-nominated projects, sharing the top spot with artists like Black Motion and Kelvin Momo. The quality and meticulous creation behind the work were recognized with wins in technical categories, showcasing the album’s quality. Her awards include Best Engineered Album and Best Produced Album.
Beyond the technical triumphs, Sankofa was honored in two major categories. Mazwai was named Female Artist of the Year, and she also secured the award for Best African Adult Contemporary Album, acknowledging the album’s success within this genre.

Thandiswa Mazwai : Instagram
She was a top contender with Black Motion and Kelvin Momo, for the total number of nominations, the full list of competitors in the categories she won gives true context. For the Female Artist of the Year category, the results do not specify the other artists she was directly contested with. Similarly, the exact list of albums she competed against for Best African Adult Contemporary Album is not specified, though the list of winners confirms she won.

Thandiswa Mazwai : Instagram
For the technical awards, Best Engineered Album and Best Produced Album, only Sankofa is listed as the winner; the competing engineers and producers are not specified.
Read Also : Thuli Phongolo Announces New Song ‘HAI SUKA’, Opens Up about Life in Entertainment
Mazwai’s dominance at the SAMAs highlights a perfect evening for a musician who has paid her dues. The celebration was captured in her social media post following the wins. Her success, alongside other major winners of the night like Goldmax, took home Album of the Year.
Music
Beyoncé Releases ‘Morning Dew (Donk)’ in Surprise Release
Beyoncé has released ‘Morning Dew (Donk)’ without prior announcement, giving fans their first new solo song since 2024’s Cowboy Carter. The track arrived over the Fourth of July weekend in the United States and quickly drew attention across streaming platforms and social media.
The release also launches the 20th anniversary celebrations for B’Day, Beyoncé’s second solo studio album, which was released in 2006 and featured hits including Irreplaceable, Déjà Vu and Ring the Alarm. According to information released alongside the song, Morning Dew (Donk) was recorded during the B’Day sessions but did not make the final track list. It will now appear on the album’s upcoming anniversary edition, nearly 20 years after it was first recorded.

Beyoncé – Instagram
The song reunites Beyoncé with longtime collaborators Pharrell Williams, The-Dream and Darius Dixon, who share writing credits. Production was handled by Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams.
To accompany the release, Beyoncé shared a lyric video featuring archival footage filmed by photographer and director Cliff Watts during the B’Day era. The black-and-white visuals show the singer during a 2007 photo shoot, linking the newly released track to the period in which it was originally recorded.

Beyoncé – Instagram
Rumours about a song titled Donk had circulated for years after references to the track appeared in music industry databases, but it was never officially released. Its arrival resolves long-running speculation surrounding the recording while adding another chapter to the B’Day anniversary celebrations.
The release also comes as fans continue to speculate about Beyoncé’s next studio project. Following Renaissance and Cowboy Carter, many have been expecting the third instalment of her planned trilogy. While Morning Dew (Donk) is a previously unreleased recording from the B’Day sessions rather than a preview of a new musical direction, it arrives at a time when interest in her next project remains high.

Beyoncé – Instagram
By opening the B’Day anniversary celebrations with an unreleased recording from the vault, Beyoncé has revisited an important chapter of her career while giving listeners a chance to hear a track that remained unfinished business for nearly two decades.
Music
Tyla Becomes First Artist to Spend 100 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s US Afrobeats Chart
Tyla has reached another career milestone by becoming the first artist to spend 100 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. This feat shows Tyla’s growing influence in the world’s biggest music market. The record was confirmed after her latest hit, Is It Love, climbed to the top of the chart.
The Billboard chart was launched in 2022 through a partnership between Billboard and Afro Nation, it used streaming activity, digital sales and the data to arrive at the result. The chart is used to measure African music’s appeal in the American market. To achieve such a feat, the artist needs huge listener engagement. According to Chart Data, she has double the #1 of her closest competitors.

Photo: Instagram
Read Also: Tyla Wins ‘Best Afrobeats Artist’ at the 2026 American Music Awards
Tyla’s record breaking run is because of her numerous successful singles, not just a single hit. Her single, Water, remained at No. 1 in the U.S. Afrobeats chart for 55 weeks. Also, the success of Push 2 Start, Chanel, and now Is It Love contributed to her historic 100 week total.
Tyla’s success is a testament of her talent. In recent years, Afrobeats and amapiano have featured on international streaming platforms and music festivals. Her dominance shows that African artists are no longer pushovers.

Photo: Instagram
The record came at a time Tyla’s second studio album, A Pop, is gathering international momentum. With four No. 1 songs in the U.S. She has raised the benchmark for future artists on the chart. Her latest achievement is a landmark moment for South African music and the wider African music industry.
Music
Tyla Becomes First Artist to Spend 100 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Chart
Tyla has reached another career milestone by becoming the first artist to spend 100 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. This feat shows Tyla’s growing influence in the world’s biggest music market. The record was confirmed after her latest hit, Is It Love, climbed to the top of the chart.
The Billboard chart was launched in 2022 through a partnership between Billboard and Afro Nation, it used streaming activity, digital sales and the data to arrive at the result. The chart is used to measure African music’s appeal in the American market. To achieve such a feat, the artist needs huge listener engagement. According to Chart Data, she has double the #1 of her closest competitors.

Photo: Instagram
Read Also: Tyla Wins ‘Best Afrobeats Artist’ at the 2026 American Music Awards
Tyla’s record breaking run is because of her numerous successful singles, not just a single hit. Her single, Water, remained at No. 1 in the U.S. Afrobeats chart for 55 weeks. Also, the success of Push 2 Start, Chanel, and now Is It Love contributed to her historic 100 week total.
Tyla’s success is a testament of her talent. In recent years, Afrobeats and amapiano have featured on international streaming platforms and music festivals. Her dominance shows that African artists are no longer pushovers.

Photo: Instagram
The record came at a time Tyla’s second studio album, A Pop, is gathering international momentum. With four No. 1 songs in the U.S. She has raised the benchmark for future artists on the chart. Her latest achievement is a landmark moment for South African music and the wider African music industry.
-
Travels3 months ago5 Ways to Ensure Your Luggage Stays Safe During Your Travels
-
Movies3 months agoBontle Modiselle, Bobby van Jaarsveld and Chad Jones Bring South African Presence to “Michael” Premiere in Berlin
-
Netflix3 months agoAfrican Films and TV Series to Watch on Netflix April 2026
-
Movies3 months agoBuntu Petse Joins “Inimba” Season 2
-
Beauty3 months ago5 Morning Rituals to Boost Your Skin’s Metabolic Glow
-
Health3 months agoUnexplained Weight Gain? It Could Be a Sign of PCOS
-
Events3 months agoMiss South Africa Qhawekazi Mazaleni and First Runner-up Luyanda Zuma to Host at the Metro FM Music Awards
-
Celebrity News3 months agoCharlize Theron Opens Up About Childhood Trauma and Mother’s Act of Self-Defence


